Turkey is preparing for the upcoming Mediterranean luxury yacht charter season with a series of easy to follow measures to ensure the safety of locals and travellers this summer season.

In Turkey aboard a luxury gulet © S/Y DEA DEL MARE

Turkey is a favourite Eastern Mediterranean destination for its fine summer weather extending into the shoulder seasons, and scenic destinations rich in culture and local stories set the stage for an incredible and memorable adventure. The Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast, is an ideal cruising ground for guests of all ages to enjoy an array of water sports and have close encounters with beautiful marine life in the clear blue sea. Modern motor yachts and sailing catamarans are common sights along the coast and among the islands, and traditionally styled luxury gulets filled with the latest entertainments and comforts are a popular way to make a Turkish charter even more special.

Holidaymakers arriving for a luxury yacht charter will have peace of mind aboard a vessel issued with a Safe Tourism Certificate from accredited institutions, proving the yacht crew’s dedication to applying all the health protocols. 

Amazing charter vacations in Europe – photos credit © Tankoa / Yacht SOLO

On the part of international tourists, all incoming passengers must complete a Passenger Locator Form at least four days prior to arriving in Turkey, or when applying for an e-visa. The form requires contact information, including accommodation address, to ensure a swift response should anyone come into contact with an individual who later tests positive for Covid-19.

Once the Passenger Locator Form is submitted, a unique HES (Hayat Eve Siğar) will be generated, which stores all the provided information. Passengers must also have a medical certificate with a negative coronavirus PCR test result. The test must be taken no more than 72 hours from the initial embarkation point. Children under six years of age are exempt. Some countries do not need to submit a PCR test: More information can be found at https://www.visasturkey.com/pcr-test-covid-health-requirements/

BODRUM – Turkey. 

As a final precaution, passengers will need to undergo a brief medical check, including a temperature reading, and using a facemask is mandatory in public areas including parks, shops and transport such as taxis and buses.

A luxury yacht charter grants you the freedom to explore far and wide while socially distancing and enjoying all of life’s little pleasures. See an example Turkey charter itinerary for an example of what you could be doing this summer.

LUXURY CHARTER YACHTS IN TURKEY

Get ready for a fun-filled summer in the sunshine in the Western Mediterranean charter grounds with Sunseeker superyacht BST SUNRISE, previously known as FIRECRACKER.

Motor yacht BST SUNRISE

This 26.9m/88.1ft vessel is ideal for island hopping using her top speed of 35 knots and has a shallow draft to take up to 12 guests to the best-secluded beaches around Corsica and Sardinia. Snorkel in the La Maddalena Archipelago and get up close to incredible wildlife thriving in its natural habitat, then dry off on land and savour an Italian coffee along with the stunning scenery.

alfresco dining area

The outdoor areas aboard M/Y BST SUNRISE offer plenty of options for living in the sunshine or shade, with a place on the foredeck to sunbathe or rest with a cocktail at sunset. There are even more sunbeds to be found on the flybridge for greater privacy and uninterrupted sunshine while sunbathing around Cannes, Monaco or other glamorous cityscapes.

saloon and dining area

Inside, the cool climate-controlled salon provides a laid-back atmosphere for guests to relax as a family or entertain old friends and new acquaintances made through the adventure. Top-quality entertainment systems will keep younger charter guests engaged while cruising and waiting for the next delectable meal, and as a way to wind down at the end of every busy day.

Accommodation

The accommodation sleeps up to 8 guests across 4 en-suite cabins: 1 full-beam Master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 1 twin cabin and 1 convertible cabin.

See more of the beautiful living spaces onboard luxury yacht BST SUNRISE and secure your preferred dates for a sensational summer charter in the popular Western Mediterranean cruising grounds.

South African shipyard Southern Wind has announced the construction of its first hybrid propulsion vessel, the sailing yacht NYUMBA.

Sailing yacht NYUMBA

NYUMBA is the fourth hull in the proven SW96 model and is being constructed for a passionate young Owner now on his third sailing yacht. As a hands-on Owner, he approached Southern Wind to produce a ‘ sexy, comfortable, reliable and above all sustainable’ world-cruising vessel capable of being sailed short-handed with the responsiveness to perform in some of the world’s top regattas.

To meet these criteria, she will be the first sailing yacht from the shipyard to be installed with a hybrid propulsion system. This will be designed in collaboration with multinational company Bae Systems, which constructs technology-led defence and aerospace systems as well as advanced hybrid propulsion systems. The patented ‘Hybrid Gen’ electric propulsion system has been specifically engineered to make S/Y NYUMBA compliant with the IMO Tier III environmental regulations.

Luxury yacht NYUMBA by Southern Wind Shipyard

NYUMBA means ‘home’ in Swahili and reflects the Owners’ desire to spend extensive periods onboard, comfortably cruising. She will be built with a full carbon hull and prepreg side and foredeck for a shallow draft and excellent stability, with hull lines penned by Farr Yacht Design. A lifting keel will grant access to shallower waters to anchor in quiet bays overnight, and a twin rudder configuration, carbon rigging and upgraded hydraulic winches will ensure excellent performance. There is a tender garage able to store a 4.5m/14.9ft tender, and a larger swim platform has been installed for greater comfort and more entertainment space while away from the marina.

The exterior and interior design comes from Nauta Design and features a sleek GT deck configuration designed to meet the client’s specifications. The interiors offer a comfortable and intimate atmosphere for long-term cruising, with the Owner’s cabin placed forward and two guest cabins amidships, and the crew quarters and galley aft. The main salon will be bright and airy, and the space for a fourth cabin will instead be used as a TV lounge with plenty of seating.

Superyacht NYUMBA is currently under construction at the Cape Town facilities and delivery is scheduled for summer 2022.

Experience the thrill of sailing the colourful Caribbean charter grounds with performance and comfort at your command aboard brand new sailing yacht SPARK III.

sailing yacht SPARK III

Built by CNB Bordeaux with naval architecture from the prestigious Philippe Briand, 23.2m/76.1ft S/Y SPARK III is perfect for those with a passion for sailing and the desire to get up close to the natural world with a wonderful selection of water toys.

Above deck, the cockpit offers a place for family and friends to savour the views of the US Virgin Islands in the sunlight and under the stars. Dine in the open air on ingredients fresh from local markets, with a variety of soft drinks or spirits to complement every meal.

Accommodation

The convivial contemporary interiors are bright and airy for conversation and time spent on hobbies within the climate-controlled interiors. Wind down at the end of a busy day by watching a film curled up on the sofa, then sink into the sumptuous beds for a full night’s rest.

The selection of water toys is superb for the transparent seas surrounding the British Virgin Islands, and the collection includes: 

• Seabobs
• paddleboards
• Scuba diving equipment
• water skis, and
• a Tiwal sailing dinghy

The professional crew of 3 has a passion for water sports, ensuring that your group has safe and satisfying adventures in all the best spots in the Caribbean.

Interiors

There is room for up to 9 guests on board while cruising, and the overnight accommodation sleeps up to 6 guests in 3 flexible cabins: 1 Master suite, 1 twin cabin convertible to a double, and 1 bunk cabin where the bottom bed pulls out to become a double.

Find out more about the graceful new sailing yacht SPARK II and plan your own Caribbean itinerary today.

The fast and fun-filled luxury yacht LADY ISABELLA has joined the Western Mediterranean charter market, and for her debut, she has been extensively refitted for a modern appearance complete with top-notch technology.

motor yacht LADY ISABELLA

Built by Princess Yachts in 2015, 23.7m/77.9ft motor yacht LADY ISABELLA is perfect for extended families or a group of friends to escape the city and revel in the sunshine along the French and Italian Rivieras. She has a top speed of 30 knots ideal for island-hopping in the Tuscan Archipelago, and her fast cruising speed of 20 knots will have you zipping between the best beaches and anchorages around Corsica and Sardinia before anyone else arrives.

Flybridge

The light-filled interiors have a timeless laid-back ambience that will appeal to charter guests of all ages. The plush sofas are perfect for cosy nights in watching a film before bedtime, and the formal dining area seats up to eight guests for sensational courses within climate-controlled surroundings.

saloon and dining area

Connect with the environment around La Maddalena Archipelago National Park by spending as much time as possible outdoors: The main deck aft provides a comfortable place to begin the day with coffee or dine alfresco at sunset, and the foredeck has a large sunbed to rest and digest while admiring the scenery. The flybridge is perhaps the most desirable outdoor area on board, having a Jacuzzi that when covered can be used as an additional sunbed. There is a second alfresco dining area amidships, and the crew can create flavoursome cocktails at the adjacent bar.

Accommodation

There is a fantastic collection of water toys to entertain all ages and fitness levels, and the collection includes:

• 2 x Seabobs
• 1 x flyboard
• 1 x jet surf
• 1 x knee board
• 1 x wakeboard
• water skis
• a pool, and
• inflatable toys 

There are also two e-bikes for exploring together along the coastal tracks.

Up to 10 guests can remain on board while cruising, and overnight the accommodation sleeps a total of 8 guests across 4 beautiful en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite, 1 VIP stateroom, 1 double cabin and 1 twin cabin. All cabins come with TV entertainment, and the full-beam Master suite also has a bathtub/shower combination to soak tired muscles before a full night’s rest.

Luxury yacht LADY ISABELLA is ready for adventures in the Western Mediterranean – see more of her desirable social spaces and plan your week-long itinerary along the French Riviera or Amalfi Coast today.

MORE INFO  & RATES FOR LADY ISABELLA

Luxury yacht CLOUD 9, previously known by the model name of SANLORENZO 62 STEEL, was launched earlier this year and is now available for sensational Western Mediterranean charters.

Master suite with Jacuzzi

At 61.5m/201.9ft there is plenty of room onboard to accommodate 12 guests while making use of her cruising range of up to 5,000 nautical miles, and the long list of entertainment options will make the distance between destinations vanish: There is a massage room close to the main deck guest accommodation (which can alternatively be used as an additional staff cabin), and the beach club on the lower deck has a hammam, gym equipment, lounge and wet bar which is illuminated by sunshine through the glass-bottomed Jacuzzi pool on the main deck aft. The sky lounge has a cinema setup, and alfresco dining, lounging and sunbathing options can be found across the decks. All of this is finished in impeccable contemporary style from the renowned Francesco Paszkowski Design, so you’ll be ready to impress when you make an appearance at Monaco or Cannes.

Beach club and gym area

The selection of water toys is still being added to, however, M/Y CLOUD 9 has status as an Approved RYA Water Sports Centre so guests can earn a jet ski licence during their stay on board. The flyboard also offers hours of fun with the opportunity to impress fellow guests with a variety of tricks.

The accommodation sleeps up to 12 guests across 7 en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite, 2 VIP staterooms, 2 double cabins convertible to twins, 1 twin cabin, and the massage room which converts to a seventh cabin ideal for staff.

motor yacht CLOUD 9 at her launch

An ‘Owner’s deck’ gives the occupants of the Master suite a wealth of amenities all to themselves, including an office/study and a foredeck with sunbeds and a Jacuzzi for afternoons relaxing in the sunshine among the scenic Aeolian Islands.

Wherever you choose to cruise, an attentive staff of 15 will be on hand to ensure that everyone receives the first-class service throughout their stay. Learn more about the beautiful Sanlorenzo superyacht CLOUD 9 and prepare your Western Mediterranean activity for a celebratory summer.

The exceptional 107.6m/353ft mega yacht LUMINOSITY lit up the Monaco waterfront after sundown over the weekend, where she stayed for her guests to enjoy the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, heralding the start of summer and the Mediterranean yacht charter season.

Benetti FB 272 superyacht Luminosity in Monaco 2021

Built by Benetti in 2019, M/Y LUMINOSITY was the second of three vessels launched as the second of three vessels over 100m/ 328ft as part of the Italian shipyard’s ‘giga yacht season’. She comes in at 5,844 GT and features styling from prestigious designers Reymond Langton, RWD, Giorgio M. Cassetta, Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture and Zaniz Interiors.

There is accommodation on board for up to 27 guests, however mega yacht LUMINOSITY can host even more guests onboard while in the marina, and there are several alfresco dining and lounging spots on board to watch the action in comfort. The sundeck towers above it all and has an aft helideck, Jacuzzi and wet bar to savour the warm weather and sunshine before the race begins.

Benetti FB 272 MY Luminosity in Monaco

The hybrid propulsion technology is so sophisticated to go virtually unnoticed by guests: The main systems can run for up to 12 hours drawing on the 3MWh battery pack, negating the need to switch on the generators. She can travel more than 10 nautical miles in electric mode, leaving port silently and cruising through environmentally sensitive regions.

The Mediterranean is the world’s most popular cruising grounds for summer yacht charters, and the Western Mediterranean puts on a packed calendar of festivals, concerts and shows to fill the days and evening hours.

Benetti FB 272 mega yacht Luminosity in Monaco

See a selection of luxury yachts available for the Western Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean, and plan your own incredible summer break for 2021.

Lusben shipyard in Livorno has completed its refit on the 60m/197ft luxury yacht OASIS eight days ahead of schedule, ready for the summer cruising season.

Lusben refits MY Oasis – Lurssen

The work undertaken included the renewing of the class and an entire repaint of the interior and exterior areas, covering an area of 2,300m²/24,757ft².

Lusben refits MY Oasis – Lurssen 60m

Built by Lürssen in 2006, M/Y OASIS has been used for both private cruising and charters in the past. Her onboard amenities are extensive, including a Jacuzzi, cinema, outdoor dance floor, a Steinway piano and bar within the lounges, an office, a sundeck gym with a personal trainer, plus a beach club with a large collection of water toys.

Lusben refits motor yacht Oasis – Lurssen 60m

Lusben refits superyacht Oasis – Lurssen 60m

She is splendid for hosting dockside celebrations, or as a serene haven for getaways with family and friends. The accommodation sleeps up to 12 guests across six en-suite cabins, which includes a full-beam master suite.

Classic 57.3m/188ft Feadship luxury yacht AMARA has successfully completed an extensive refit at the Feadship Makkum facilities whilst simultaneously undergoing Lloyd’s 35-year survey.

Motor yacht AMARA © Feadship

Launched in 1986, M/Y AMARA was previously known as luxury yacht CACIQUE and was built by Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw with naval architecture and exterior styling by Frits de Voogt and interiors by Terence Disdale.

Her latest Owners bought her in 2020 and spent her first season cruising in Alaska. They decided since to reinforce her helideck for the twin-engine craft they wish to use in the future. The new helideck was engineered by Francis Gumbs at Feadship Refit & Services before being built by the Feadship in-house aluminium department. To further personalise AMARA, the standard H has been changed to the logo of the luxury yacht.

AMARA yacht © Feadship

Other exterior changes include a new sundeck layout which resulted in the removal of a bulwark to add aluminium lockers. The sundeck, foredeck and parts of the bridge deck also received a new teak deck, plus a repaint to bring these areas back to as-new condition.

The interiors meanwhile received their own improvements, including the reupholstering or replacement of carpets, wall furnishings, furniture and blinds. New mirrors, carpet mattresses and vinyl on the bathroom walls had the crew areas looking like new.

aerial view © Feadship

An extensive overhaul to the original main engines resulted in the turbos, pumps and heat exchangers being fully revised, while the rudder shafts were replaced, and new bronze rudder shaft bearings fitted. The black/grey water holding tank was also replaced – a change that guests are unlikely to notice, but one that will ensure that M/Y/ AMARA remains in peak condition for another 35 years.

Sail at your leisure in the Greece charter grounds this summer with the spectacular modern sailing yacht BLACK LION (ex.XNOI) from renowned Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

BLACK LION superyacht for charter

Captivate onlookers as you cruise between the Ionian Islands, exploring seaside villages and finding the hidden gems along the way. Superyacht BLACK LION is designed to make the most of life outdoors and has a designated sunbathing area aft of the cockpit, which itself offers a comfortable place to lounge and dine alfresco while taking in sweeping views of the location.

You don’t have to go far from the mainland to end up in scenic surroundings: The Saronic Islands close to Athens are well-known to sailing enthusiasts while all but unknown to the rest of the world. When you find the perfect anchorage, the fold-out transom becomes a beach club with a swim ladder for easy access in and out of the crystal clear sea. You can let off some steam with the water skis, wakeboard and inflatable towable ring from the selection of water toys on board. After, you can relax with lunch alfresco on the shores and wear off any indulgent treats with a nap in the sunshine.

Interiors

When you’re ready to leave the great outdoors, the climate-controlled interiors are a serene sanctuary where the group can still marvel at the views through the windows surrounding the main deck lounging and dining area. Steps lead down to the lower deck lounge which is a comfortable TV den to wind down at the end of a long day.

Deck

S/Y BLACK LION is perfectly sized for extended family or friends couples, and the accommodation sleeps up to 8 guests in 4 en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite and 3 twin cabins, two of which have a Pullman berth. Each cabin comes with TV entertainment, and all bathrooms have a sink, toilet and shower.

Enjoy the absolute best of the Eastern Mediterranean in comfort and style with sailing yacht BLACK LION.